Family · Wheels & Draws
Wheels and draws: Fortune’s wheel and the numbers games
The wheel of Fortune was an image long before it was a game. This family runs from Rota Fortunae and the numbers game Biribi to the roulette wheel and keno, with the house edge of each modern table explained.
7 guides in the family1 playable here

LearnAmerican vs European Roulette: The House Edge ExplainedEuropean roulette has half the house edge of American. This guide explains the maths, the history behind the double zero, and why French roulette is even better.
GameBiribi and Hoca: The Italian Games That Created the Blueprint for RouletteDiscover how 17th-century genius Blaise Pascal inadvertently created the mechanical basis for the Roulette wheel while trying to build a perpetual motion machine. A failed physics experiment that became a casino icon.
LearnHistory of Keno: From Ancient Chinese Lottery to Casino ClassicExplore the origins of Keno, the ancient Chinese lottery game that migrated to America with Chinese immigrants and became a staple in modern casinos and online gambling.
LearnRoulette Strategy and Betting Systems: What Actually WorksEvery roulette system - Martingale, D'Alembert, Fibonacci, Labouchère - explained with the actual maths. What works, what doesn't, and why no system beats the edge.
HistoryHero’s Vending Machine: The Ancient Greek Device That Inspired the Slot MachineLearn how Hero of Alexandria's 1st-century holy water dispenser, the world's first vending machine, established the "coin-in, result-out" mechanic that is the core concept behind every modern casino slot machine.
HistoryRota Fortunae: How the Roman Wheel of Fortune Became the Ancestor of RouletteDiscover the fascinating history of Rota Fortunae, the ancient Roman Wheel of Fortune, considered the direct ancestor of modern casino Roulette. Learn how Roman soldiers gambled on spinning chariot wheels or shields, laying the groundwork for one of today's most popular casino games.
HistoryThe History and Origins of RouletteRoulette - literally “the little wheel” - is among the most enduring institutions of gambling and a touchstone for debates about chance, probability, and
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